As we are still assimilating information regarding the John Carr scandal at the USCCB, we now learn of yet another atrocity being committed by Catholic Charities of Albany, New York. CatholicCulture carries a more detailed report.
Sister Maureen Joyce, the CEO of that Catholic Charities, says, "From a theological standpoint, we're not being faithful to our mission if we don't reach out to people addicted to drugs, too.” Dear Sister, whatever "reaching out" means, it does not mean greasing their way to destruction. It means preaching the Gospel of repentance and helping the addicted out of their addiction and into true freedom. They are slaves to their habits, chained to death as it were, and all you're doing is polishing the chain links!
The focal point of this effort from hell is an $83,000 van filled with needles and syringes. I assume that is just the cost of the vehicle itself. The instruments of death (albeit very sanitary) surely cost a few bucks more. Now how much real charity could be effected by that money? Do the Catholics of Albany have the slightest clue that their donation dollars are being spent to aid and abet crime and to further confirm addicts in their sin and self-destruction?
This, ladies and gentlemen, has been approved by the local bishop, Howard Hubbard. Yes, he does occupy a high position in the USCCB. He is the Chaiman on the Committee of Peace and Justice. Wanna bet that he works with John Carr?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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Although I can understand your response to this program, there are a couple of details I think bear more consideration.
ReplyDelete1) The program is entirely funded by the state, there is no money from Catholic Charities funding this program.
2) These programs save lives, help people get into treatment and stop their habit and prevent them from catching and/or spreading fatal and communicable diseases while they're using. An addict never decides not to use for lack of a clean needle. This does not encourage or increase drug use in any way, it merely offers an opportunity to have a dialog with intravenous drug users, a population notoriously difficult to engage otherwise. It also protects the community as a whole while doing it.
3) It is extremely cost effective. If the program prevents a single case of HIV from somebody on medicaid, it has paid for it's operation for several years.
4) These programs act as a way for drug users to access treatment and they're good at it. Studies indicate that many programs actually lower drug use and encourage treatment among its participants.
I hope you can consider these factors when evaluating the merit of this program.
Let me start by stating one clear premise of Catholic moral theology - One may not do evil to bring about good. The distribution of needles to drug addicts, knowing that they'll use it to continue their habit, is evil. There is no excuse for that. Moreover, to cooperate materially and formally with objectively mortal sin is itself a mortal sin - this time on the part of the CCHD. Now I'll address several of your points.
ReplyDelete1) The fact that government may be the ultimate funding source is of little comfort, for again, the money comes from the pockets of faithful Catholics albeit in the form of taxes as opposed to donations.
2) Save lives? It destroys lives to give to someone the instruments whereby they poison themselves.
3) It will waste more money as it encourages a deadly lifestyle. And again, I refer you to the moral principle with which I opened my remarks.
4) "Treatment" is NOT being touted here. I'd be much more happy if they were to offer just the treatment without the confused message that they're sending with the needle distribution.
No merits exists. This is an abysmal waste of dollars, as the CCHD is literally striking hands with agents of death.
I do not think you have a good grasp of this program. If syringe exchange programs do not change injection frequency (which has been fairly conclusively demonstrated), then how can you make the claim that they encourage drug use? I can provide you with a great deal of evidence to support this.
ReplyDeleteAgain, if injection frequency is not changed, how can the program destroy lives? It protects not only drug users from communicable disease but the whole community. 75% of HIV cases have injection drug use somewhere in their line of person to person transmission. This program is effective at breaking these links.
I am personally familiar with this program. Access to treatment is a BIG part of what it does. They have a staff member on the van whose only job is to help people get into treatment.
It does not seem reasonable to say that no merits exist for this program if it does not encourage drug use, protects people from deadly diseases, and helps people get into treatment.
What I question is your grasp of Catholic moral theology. One may not do evil to effect some anticipated good. Giving needles away, knowing full well they'll be used for self-injection of drugs, is formal and material cooperation with mortal sin. It is itself a mortal sin. And by what stretch of the imagination does the bestowal of needles "not encourage drug use"?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, following your line of reasoning, the next logical step would be to supply the addicts with free drugs. You are probably aware that many addicts get the money to buy their drugs through theft, prostitution, etc. If you give them free drugs, then they will not have to steal or prostitute themselves! So let's give yet more of our Catholic Charities donations and/or tax money for free drugs. (sarcasm)
ReplyDeleteDiane Levero
Restore-DC-Catholicism is correct on this - Catholic moral theology: The end does not justify the means; you may not do evil to produce a ( in this case questionable) good.
ReplyDeleteWhy is giving needles away any different from handing out condoms in Africa, which our beloved Pope has spoken against?
Ditto on the condom comparison. And how about those who argue that giving teens birth control is better than pregnancy. There's always a "good" reason to do evil, but it's still evil. But it's not surprising to see this coming out of Albany. That diocese has been cooperating with evil for years. Pray for Bishop Hubbard and the Catholic Charities enablers.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for reaching out to addicts. Take them coffee and sandwiches and offer them assistance. Why do needles have to be any part of the process?
Reckless irresponsibility. Truly, it is madness.
ReplyDelete